Chapter 20

Lapis lazuli veins have been discovered as a source of funding, so the next step is to secure a sales channel to convert it into a substantial amount of money.

The day after receiving the report from the survey team, Noein loaded the lapis lazuli raw stones onto a cart and set out for Letvik to seek the Miles Trading Company. This time, he was accompanied by Matilda, Radley, and Edgar.

Upon arriving in Letvik in the afternoon, Noein said,

"First, let's go to a store that deals with precious metals and gemstones, but not the Miles Trading Company."

"Why not go to the Miles Trading Company first?"

"I want to know the current market price of lapis lazuli raw stones accurately before that. So, I want to gather information. I'll go into a suitable store, look at some accessories, and casually ask about it."

"…Are you suggesting, Sir Noein, that the head of the Miles Trading Company might deceive us because we're not well-versed in minerals?"

"You're sharp, Matilda. That's exactly it."

Hearing the conversation between the two, Noein explained the meaning of Matilda's words to Radley and Edgar, who didn't quite understand.

"In other words, if we don't know the current market price of lapis lazuli raw stones accurately in advance, we might be offered an unfairly low price by the Miles Trading Company."

"Wait… Would a major trading company do such a thing?"

"I don't think they would try to deceive us, given our established relationship through fur trading. However, this deal involves a significant amount of money. It's scary to negotiate without any information. It's better to be too cautious."

Noein answered Edgar, who looked surprised, with a sly smile. He didn't say out loud that he thought everyone in a business deal was an enemy trying to deceive him.

...

"Welcome. What are you looking for today?"

"Thank you. Actually, I want to buy a gift for a female friend. Maybe some jewelry."

In the high-end store where he went to gather information, Noein was approached by a man who seemed to be the owner and gave a casual reason for his visit.

The others were waiting at a distance, and he was dressed in a way that made him look like a moderately wealthy commoner, not a noble. It seemed that he wasn't recognized as the "Forest Viscount."

"I see. Understood. Do you have any preferences for the design or color of the jewelry?"

"She mentioned that she likes blue, so if you have something with a blue gemstone..."

"Then I'll show you a few options."

The owner placed about three items on the counter.

One was a pair of earrings with a strikingly clear blue gemstone, probably a sapphire.

Another was a ring with a stone that had a mix of blue, green, and yellow, likely an opal.

The last one was a necklace with a deep blue stone polished into a round shape and placed at the center. This was definitely lapis lazuli. He remembered that his late mother had shown him a gemstone that looked just like this.

"This necklace is very beautiful. What kind of gemstone is it?"

"This is lapis lazuli. It's also known as the 'gemstone that brings good luck.'"

Bingo.

"May I ask, is the person you're giving this to someone special?"

"Hehe, to be honest, yes. This is the first gift I'm giving her."

Noein answered with a smile that made him look like a naive young man. If Yuri had seen his face, she would have sharply pointed out, "What's with that fake smile?"

The owner, who didn't suspect that Noein was lying, said with a smile, "If that's the case, the lapis lazuli necklace would be a perfect choice."

"How much does this necklace cost?"

"It's 800 reublos."

"I see... It's quite expensive for such a small stone."

"Given its rarity... It's not only used as a gemstone but also as a pigment. Have you heard of 'the blue of the mother sea'?"

"Yes, I think I've heard of it."

Actually, he knew it well, but he pretended to recall it just now.

"When lapis lazuli raw stones are ground into powder, they become that pigment. It's rare and expensive, so it's a dream pigment for painters."

"That's an interesting story... So, the raw stones are also quite expensive before processing?"

"Yes, if you want to buy them, they might cost around 2000 reublos per kilogram. Maybe even more."

"Really..."

"The raw stones are also popular as objects of art because of their deep blue and mysterious appearance."

After pretending to be interested in the products and chatting, he said, "I'll come back another day with the money since it exceeds my budget," and left the store. He apologized in his heart, thinking he probably wouldn't come back.

He then met up with Matilda and the others at the square they had designated as the meeting place.

"I'm back. I successfully found out the price of the raw stones. It's the selling price, but I think we can use it to estimate the wholesale price and avoid making mistakes in negotiations."

"Well done, Sir Noein."

"Thank you, Matilda. Next is the Miles Trading Company. We need to handle it well."

...

Benedict, the head of the trading company, rarely appeared for the usual fur purchases, so it had been a while since Noein had seen him.

He was led to the same reception room as before. Today, Matilda stood behind Noein, and Radley and Edgar, who were carrying the lapis lazuli raw stones, also accompanied them to the reception room.

"Lord Alquvist, it's been a while. I understand you have a special matter to discuss today."

"It's been a while, Benedict. Thank you for your time."

"Not at all, it's an honor to assist Lord Alquvist. Please, tell me about your matter."

"Yes, I would like to ask the Miles Trading Company to handle the transaction of this."

Noein signaled, and Radley and Edgar placed a heavy, cloth-wrapped lump on the table. The high-quality wooden table didn't budge under the weight.

They unwrapped the cloth to reveal the contents.

"This is... lapis lazuli raw stone, isn't it?"

Impressive, thought Noein, that Benedict recognized it at a glance.

Benedict's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the rare and substantial raw stone.

"Where did you find this... Ah, the Restio Mountains, I see."

"That's right. We discovered what seems to be a lapis lazuli vein at the foot of the Restio Mountains, which borders the Alquvist territory. I'm not an expert in mining, so I don't know the exact amount that can be extracted, but..."

Benedict let out an involuntary sigh after hearing Noein's explanation.

From what Noein had read in books, lapis lazuli was particularly rare in the Lodberg Kingdom. The discovery of a vein in the neighboring territory's mountains was a surprising piece of news for Benedict. It was understandable that he was taken aback.

"Ah, my apologies. So, you're here to sell this raw stone today?"

"Yes, for now. And if possible, I would like to exclusively sell the lapis lazuli raw stones extracted from my territory to the Miles Trading Company in the future."

At Noein's proposal, Benedict's eyes widened in surprise.